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Transferring Educational Data.
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DATA PROTECTION ACT 1988
TRANSFERRING EDUCATIONAL DATA ABOUT PUPILS
Education authorities and the Scottish Education Department (SEED) have collected data about pupils on paper formats for many years. We are now working together to transfer data electronically through the ScotXed programme.
What pupil data will be collected and transferred?
Data on each pupil is collected by local authorities and SEED. The data collected and transferred covers such areas as date of birth, postcode, registration for free-school meals, whether a pupil is looked after by his/her local authority, additional support needs including disability, attendance, absence and exclusions for school. Pupil names and addresses are collected by their school and education authority but they are not passed to SEED. Your postcode is the only part of your address that is transferred. Data is held securely and no information on individual pupils can or would be published by SEED. It is used for statistical and research purposes only.
Providing national identity and ethnic background data is entirely voluntary. You can choose the ‘not disclosed’ option if you do not want to provide this data. However, we hope that the explanation contained in this message and on the ScotXed website (www.scotxed.net) will help you understand the importance of providing the data.
Why do we need your data?
In order to make the best decisions about how to improve our education service, SEED and education authorities need accurate, up-to-date date about our pupils. We are keen to help all our pupils do well in all aspects of school life and achieve better exam results. Accurate and up-to-date data allows SEED, education authorities and schools to:
• Plan and deliver better policies for the benefit of all pupils,
• Plan and deliver better policies for the benefit of specific groups of pupils,
• Better understand some of the factors that influence pupil attainment and achievement,
• Target resources better.
Your data protection rights
The collection, transfer, processing and sharing of Scotxed data is done in accordance with the Date Protection Act (1998). We also comply with the National Statistics Code of Practice requirements and other legislation related to safeguarding the confidentiality of data. The Date Protection Act gives you the right to know how we will use the data. This message can give only a brief description of how we use the data. Fuller details of the uses of pupil data can be found on the ScotXed website.
SEED will not publish or release any information that allows an individual pupil to be identified. Data will not be used by SEED to take any actions in respect of any individual pupils. Data will only be shared with bona fide partners, such as HMIE and the SQA. Any sharing will be done under conditions of strict control and with the prior agreement of the Data Controller.
Concerns
If you have any concerns about the ScotXed data collections you can email the Data Controller, Pete Whitehouse, at EDData.Controller@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or write to The ScotXed Support Office, SEED, Area 1B, Victoria Quay, Leith, EH6 6QQ. Alternative versions of this page are available, on request form the ScotXed Support Office, in other languages, audio tape, Braille and large print. Please allow up to 10 days for request to be processed.
Want more information?
Further details about ScotXed data exchanges are available on the ScotXed website, www.scotsed.net.
The website also contains answers to commonly asked questions about ScotXed.
DATA PROTECTION ACT 1988
Information on pupils, parents and guardians is held by the school to enable the teaching, registration and assessment of pupils as well as associated administrative duties. The information is stored and used as per the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998 with South Lanarkshire Council defined as the Data Controller. The Council have established a Data Protection policy that applies to all it’s schools. For more information please contact the school.
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